Short facts about the government of Qatar

Country name:

conventional long form:  State of Qatar conventional short form:  Qatar local long form:  Dawlat Qatar local short form:  Qatar note:  closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

Government type:

traditional monarchy

Capital:

Doha

Administrative divisions:

9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Salal

Independence:

3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution:

provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution

Legal system:

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters

Suffrage:

suffrage is limited to municipal elections

Executive branch:

chief of state:  Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince by the monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces head of government:  Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998) cabinet:  Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections:  none; the monarch is hereditary note:  in March 1999 Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council, which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services

Legislative branch:

unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed) note:  the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have their terms extended every four years since

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFA chancery:  4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone:  [1] (202) 274-1600 FAX:  [1] (202) 237-0061 consulate(s) general:  Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador Elizabeth Davenport MCKUNE embassy:  22 February Road, Doha mailing address:  P. O. Box 2399, Doha telephone:  [974] 488 4101 FAX:  [974] 488 4298 note:  workweek is Saturday-Wednesday

Flag description:

maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

Source: World Factbook